Wade’s next goal for the Wolfpack: “Being able to access that extra gear when there’s not a crisis”

Will Wade commented on an issue that we’ve been thinking about recently.

It’s obvious that this Wolfpack team elite level potential. They’ve shown it in spurts, and they mostly put it all together this week when they knocked off #18 Clemson at their place.

But the thing that has Pack fans baffled (and had Wade baffled earlier this season) is the fact that they can go through stretches where they just look bad.

I’m talking low intensity, low energy, low focus and a lack of physicality.

This has been the case all year. NC State’s talent level has covered up some of this versus some of the lesser teams on their schedule, but it’s been obvious in games like Seton Hall or Georgia Tech.

So what gives?

Well, this one is complicated. Usually the fans blame the coach for this stuff going awry. But I’ve spoken to the staff, I’ve sat in a practice and I’ve heard Wade talk about it. I truly do not believe this is a coaching issue.

But then what is it?

Wade talked about it on his radio show, but he didn’t get into my theory.

My theory is that this team is being led by a group of underdogs. Guys like Quadir Copeland and Darrion Williams are borderline NBA guys based on their skillsets, but they weren’t always seen this way. They both came out of high school as 3 star recruits.

They’ve spent their entire careers being underdogs, and what is the main fuel of all successful underdogs?

Doubt.

They have a machine that turns doubt into success, but now that they’ve overcome odds, and have found themselves in a system built for them, at a school with resources, and a coach who was the hottest hire of the offseason…Suddenly there isn’t much doubt floating around.

Suddenly, they are expected to win.

And in my eyes, this is where some of the struggle comes from. Learning to win as a alpha dog. Learning to create motivation from people nipping at your heels and wanting to take your spot. You have to learn to fight against your former self, and that’s a big paradigm shift for some people who have never faced challenges from this side.

But this isn’t something that can’t be learned. I just think it will take some time, some coaching and some introspection, but they’ll eventually get there. And when they do… watch out.

Listen to the full radio show below!